They say don’t go chasing waterfalls. We say of course you should explore these seven waterfalls in Colorado Springs. Water adds an extra refreshing and inspiring element to our dusty trails, whether you’re hiking, biking or running them. It can cool our feet and lift our spirits and make an epic adventure for kids on the trail. The Springs isn’t known for an over abundance of water, but there are plenty of watery cascades that are surprisingly easy to access. Here are seven waterfalls in Colorado Springs that are especially scenic, beautiful and fully worthy of your waterfall bucket list, whether you hike, bike, run or drive to reach them.
Waterfalls in Cheyenne Canyon
Seven Falls
Seven Falls is the most famous waterfall in Colorado Spring and possibly in all of Colorado. It was long ago dubbed the Grandest Mile of Scenery in Colorado, and since 1883, you’ve had to pay to visit. Seven Falls is now owned by The Broadmoor, which means admission is more than the original 10 cents — and the experience now includes five-star amenities like Restaurant 1858 and decadent Falling Waffles sundaes. Reaching the base of Seven Falls is also universally accessible, and you can even take a shuttle from the canyon entrance to the waterfalls.
As the name suggests, Seven Falls is a series of seven waterfalls cascading down through the rocky canyon. Follow the 224 steps to the top to enjoy them all up close. From the top, you can hike almost another mile for a bonus eighth waterfall, a small cascade named Midnight Falls. Read about the full experience in our How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Seven Falls.
How to Get to Seven Falls
It’s easy — get on the shuttle bus for a short ride to the entrance of South Cheyenne Canyon. Day visitors park and get picked up at the Norris Penrose Event Center at 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road for a 4-mile shuttle ride. Broadmoor Hotel guests depart from the hotel for a 2-mile trip.
Helen Hunt Falls
No, it’s not named for the famous actress. It’s named for the famous 19th century novelist, poet, essayist and activist for Native American rights. And it’s easy to see why Helen Hunt Jackson found inspiration for her writing in Cheyenne Cañon. It’s also easy to see why Helen Hunt Falls is so popular. You can see the wide 35-foot cascade from the road and park at its base — if you get there early enough on a busy summer day. Parking and ramps make the viewing patio at the base of the falls universally accessible for visitors with disabilities. And there is a visitor center in the Cub, a historic cabin at the base, where you can watch hummingbirds, learn about the area’s history, make kid crafts, buy souvenirs or take a bathroom break.
You can walk down to the pool at the bottom of Helen Hunt Falls and over the bridge at its top. But for the full experience, follow the 0.3-mile Silver Cascade Falls Trail up to Silver Cascade. From there you can see the higher creek cascading over large granite slabs and enjoy cliffside views above the canyon. You’ll gain about 200 feet of elevation on the moderately steep trail. It’s typical Cheyenne Cañon hiking, with loose gravel and roots in places, but the well-built trail includes some stairs and guard-rail fencing. Even flatlanders and young kids can find their pace and make it to the top.
How to Get to Helen Hunt Falls
Enter North Cheyenne Cañon Park at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center and drive the winding road 2.7 miles up into the canyon. Enjoy the rocky views on the way. You can’t miss the waterfall near the top of the canyon.
coloradosprings.gov/helenhuntfalls
St. Mary’s Falls
Also located in North Cheyenne Cañon, the hike to St. Mary’s Falls is a longer hike and less-crowded nature experience than its sister falls in the canyon. It might be crowded at the parking lot and wide first mile, but keep going past the collapsed tunnel and you’ll find more solitude. From there, follow the singletrack trail along the babbling creek into the upper Cheyenne Cañon. The trail gets steep and loose the farther you go, especially the half-mile before the falls. But you are rewarded with big views, and you can dip your head in the cascading water (just watch for falling rock). Expect a 6.5-mile roundtrip hike or run to the 250-foot waterfall.
How to Get to St. Mary’s Falls
From the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center at the entrance of North Cheyenne Cañon Park, drive the winding road 3.3 miles to the large parking lot and trailhead at the end of the paved road. You’ll pass Helen Hunt Falls on the way.
Get our full guide in Trails: Hike St. Mary’s Falls.
Seven Bridges Trail
As you might guess from the name, Seven Bridges Trail is more a journey along the water than a single destination waterfall. As you ascend in North Cheyenne Cañon, you cross those seven wooden bridges while North Cheyenne Creek tumbles down through many small waterfalls, cascades and plunge pools. Several of the bridges offer easy access to splash in the creek. And if you go past the seventh bridge, up a steeper, rockier section of trail about 2 miles in, you can enjoy a long waterfall over granite slabs in the canyon below. This intermediate trail is a favorite for hikers, trail runners and families of all ages. After the first 0.7 miles, you’re near the water. And because it’s an out-and-back trail, you can go as far as you want and turn around whenever you need to.
How to Get to Seven Bridges Trail
From the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center at the entrance of North Cheyenne Cañon Park, drive the winding road 3.3 miles to the large parking lot and trailhead at the end of the paved road. It’s the same starting point for St. Mary’s Falls, but this time you enter the Seven Bridges singletrack when the initial wide roadbed switchbacks over the creek at 0.7 miles.
Read more about Seven Bridges in our 3 Great Trails for Fun Family Hikes.
Cheyenne Cañon, Columbine Trail
As you can tell from this list, there’s a lot of water flowing and falling in Cheyenne Cañon. While the largest of these seven waterfalls in Colorado Springs — Seven Falls, Helen Hunt and St. Mary’s — are the big stars, don’t miss the small waterfalls cascading all the way through North Cheyenne Cañon just off the road. Pullouts and parking lots provide easy access to the water. And following the Lower Columbine Trail provides wide, gently sloped walkways for easy hiking or biking. These are great spots for families with young kids or picnics with grandparents. Depending on water flow, there can be many great spots for shallow wading or splashing in North Cheyenne Creek.
How to Get to Cheyenne Cañon
Find the entrance to North Cheyenne Cañon Park at the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center. There’s a large parking lot here. Follow Lower Columbine Trail from the visitor center as far as you want. At 0.5 mile, there is an especially nice small waterfall that can gush in high water. If you drive farther up the canyon, there is a long stretch of cascades with a wide bank at the Daniels Pass Trailhead, Parking Lot 21.
More Waterfalls in Colorado Springs
Rainbow Falls
After being closed since 2021 due to rockfall dangers, Rainbow Falls reopened this month with a new parking and shuttle system. The popular waterfall drops 50 feet as Fountain Creek plunges down from Pikes Peak, and the easy access has made it a long-time popular spot in Manitou Springs. The universally accessible trail is only 0.15 miles long, following alongside the cascading creek, and it takes you under the historic concrete arch bridge supporting U.S. Highway 24.
Rainbow Falls is free to visit, but there is a $20 fee for the new parking and shuttle system from Higginbotham Flats in Manitou. The park is open Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with shuttles running every 20 minutes. Reservations are encouraged.
How to Get to Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is located in the west end of Manitou Spring at Highway 24, Serpentine Drive and W. Manitou Avenue. The new parking lot is at 101 Higginbotham Road.
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Catamount Falls and Crystal Falls
Want to get out of town just a little? Head up Ute Pass to Green Mountain Falls. The little mountain town earns its name — it is the home of Catamount Falls and Crystal Falls. Both are formed by the creeks that plunge down from Pikes Peak and the reservoirs that share their names. Hiking to both waterfalls begins in town on residential dirt roads. You’ll find Catamount Falls right when you reach the singletrack trail, and you can follow the flowing water uphill. Crystal Falls isn’t far from its singletrack trailhead. You can connect both waterfalls by using the Thomas Trail to traverse the hillsides between them on a 3-mile roundtrip hike. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can follow either trail higher up to Catamount Reservoirs and Crystal Creek Reservoir. Read more about Catamount Falls in our article 3 Worthy Waterfall Hikes Near Colorado Springs.
How to Get to Catamount Falls and Crystal Falls
Take U.S. Highway 24 west up Ute Pass. About 1.5 miles past Cascade, take a left turn to exit the highway and follow Cascade-Chipita Park Road into Green Mountain Falls. Park near the lake and follow the streets to the Catamount or Crystal Falls trailheads.
Is There a Waterfall in Red Rock Canyon / Section 16?
You might have noticed the Waterfall Trail on the Red Rock Canyon or Section 16 trail maps or heard rumors of a waterfall. Yes, it does exist, but don’t expect a raging torrent. A small seasonal stream drops through a shady ravine here, but it is often just a trickle. Still, it can make for a peaceful, burbling reverie. With new trail alignments, the easiest way to reach the unnamed waterfall is from the Section 16 trailhead on Lower Gold Camp Road. Follow the Section 16 Palmer Loop uphill and turn at the intersection with the Red Rock Canyon Overlook Trail. At about 2 miles, you’ll see a signed, short spur trail to the waterfall.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Colorado Springs Waterfalls?
Colorado Springs waterfalls generally ebb and flow with the seasons. For peak flows and raging torrents, plan your waterfalls hike for late spring or early summer. Mid-May to early June usually bring peak flows for Colorado Springs waterfalls — especially those in Cheyenne Cañon — as snow melting on Pikes Peak and other Front Range summits rushes down the local creeks. Water flows can stay consistently moderate through the summer, depending on rain totals. Late summer and fall mean generally lower, lazier water. And local waterfalls are often frozen in winter, adding a different element of beauty. You may need microspikes or trekking poles if you’re hiking into their shady, often icy canyons in the winter.
This article was originally published in June 2024.
